Bengaluru, June 8: Karnataka‘s Home Minister Priyank Kharge has directed senior police officials to issue notices to all pubs, bars, clubs, lounges, restaurants, and other establishments serving alcohol, mandating strict prohibitions on the entry of minors and serving them alcohol. This directive comes amid growing concerns regarding underage drinking and substance abuse among teenagers and youth in Bengaluru.
The Home Minister emphasized that Karnataka will adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards establishments that enable or encourage minors to consume alcohol. He stated that protecting children and youth from substance abuse must take precedence over profits for commercial establishments. The rule is clear: no entry without identification. Strict actions will be taken against any establishment that assists minors in consuming alcohol.
Kharge appealed to parents, teachers, citizens, and establishment owners to cooperate with the police. An official statement from his office referenced recent research conducted on 4,093 students from four pre-university courses, graduate colleges, and higher secondary classes in Bengaluru. The study revealed that one in three teenagers in the city is at risk of health issues due to alcohol or tobacco use.
Conducted by researchers from St. John’s Medical College, Christ University in Bengaluru, and Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, the study found that 33% of the surveyed youth consumed alcohol, while nearly 18% were addicted to tobacco. These figures are significantly higher than the national rates of 8.7% for tobacco use and 7.9% for alcohol consumption, as well as the reported rates in Karnataka of 4.7% for tobacco and 8.5% for alcohol.
Additionally, the average age for starting alcohol consumption among Bengaluru’s teenagers was reported to be 17 years, with some indicating exposure as early as 8 years old. In light of these findings, the Home Minister instructed the police to regard underage drinking not merely as a licensing violation but as a serious concern for youth safety and public health.